Organized by University of Toronto’s Transitional Year Programme Students and Alumni

Over the last forty-three years, the Transitional Year Programme (TYP) has offered applicants a full-time access program uniquely geared towards historically underrepresented experiences, while also offering students with a chance to gain entry into the University of Toronto Undergraduate Faculty of Arts and Science. In an age of austerity and cutbacks to similar programming, TYP has remained steadfast in the delivery of an academic bridging program rooted in a pro-equity and anti-oppressive worldview.

Recently, the University of Toronto administration has slowly adopted a particularly draconian method of displacement for TYP - through non-renewal of staff contracts, a refusal to replace recently retired staff positions, and a proposal to physically remove TYP from its current location (in an attempt to streamline with the Academic Bridging programme offered at Woodsworth College), ultimately threatening the autonomy and existence of TYP as it stands.

In a response to the University of Toronto’s recent affront, Transitional Year Programme students, alumni, and allies have organized a public forum on equity and access to education entitled: “Education, liberation, action!” This forum will attempt to situate recent attacks on TYP within larger processes of austerity, growing barriers to accessing education, and a necessary drive to democratize and decolonize current educational practices, particularly at the post-secondary level.

“We hope this event will bring together people from all over Toronto, since this issue is not specific to TYP only, but rather it’s an issue that affects students and educators all over our city,” said Zenee Maceda, Vice-President Administration for the Equity Studies Students’ Union at the University of Toronto, and one of the day’s principle organizers. A petition has also been drafted to demand that the University of Toronto administration reconsider its decision to undermine TYP’s autonomy.

The forum is planned to take place on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 6:15pm in OISE RM# 2124 (252 Bloor Street West). If any organizations would like to participate in this event or are interested in supporting the fight for TYP and access to education more broadly, please get in touch with any of the contact persons listed below.

The venue is accessible
ASL interpreters available
Snacks will be provided
The event is FREE